Latin America and the Caribbean: Weekly Situation Update (as of 6 September 2024)

KEY FIGURES

2.9M hectares burned by wildfires in Bolivia, up from 2 million the week prior

26K people have received humanitarian assistance post-Beryl in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada

2.5K People confined due to clashes in Bolívar, Colombia

COLOMBIA: ARMED CLASHES
A new confinement of at least 1,275 people was reported in the Garrapatas Canyon, municipality of Bolívar, Valle del Cauca. The emergency, which began on August 21 due to clashes between NSAGs, has affected 1,041 people (234 families) from the Embera Chami Garrapatas and San Quinini Indigenous reserves, as well as 234 people (89 families) from the rural area of the municipality. The confinement continues, with reports of one minor being recruited, a threat against a teacher, and one child and one adolescent injured by anti-personnel mines (APMs).

THE CARIBBEAN: HURRICANE BERYL
Two months after Hurricane Beryl, recovery efforts continue in Grenada (GRD) and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), with UN projects funded by the Central Emergency Relief Fund (CERF) now underway. Recent damage assessments show that 73 per cent of buildings in Union Island (Saint Vincent), 39 per cent in Carriacou, and 57 per cent in Petite Martinique (Grenada) were destroyed or damaged. More than 26,000 people across both countries have received aid. The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), CARICOM Disaster Relief Unit (CDRU), and CARICOM Operational Support Team (COST) have completed missions on Union Island, with a CDRU team in Carriacou until 8 September. CDEMA has also released the Rapid Needs Assessment for Saint Vincent, providing detailed insights into the situation. INGOs and NGOs continue to provide vital support. OCHA, which deployed teams to Saint Vincent, Grenada and Jamaica, has published an Exposure piece featuring personal stories from the affected communities.

SOUTH AMERICA: WILDFIRES UPDATE
The wildfire crisis across Bolivia, Brazil and Ecuador intensifies as extreme weather conditions persist.

Bolivia: Wildfires have devastated more than 2.9 million hectares of forests and grasslands, up from 2 million last week. The hardest-hit areas are Santa Cruz, Beni, and Pando, where 59 hotspots have merged into seven fire complexes. Smoke has reached cities like La Paz and Cochabamba, complicating response efforts. The UN in Bolivia is deploying technical personnel to assist in Santa Cruz.

Brazil: Brazil’s São Paulo state continues to suffer from relentless wildfires, with 2,700 new fires recorded in the past week alone. The fires have ravaged over 59,000 hectares, contributing to an estimated agricultural loss of 1 billion Real. The state has mobilized firefighters, Civil Defence officers, volunteer brigades, and private equipment. Despite these efforts, two additional deaths were reported, bringing the total to four, and 66 people have been injured. The fires, combined with severe drought, strong winds, and high temperatures, are exacerbating food insecurity across the region.

Ecuador: The wildfire crisis in Ecuador has escalated significantly, with over 460 fires burning across 19 provinces since 19 August. The most affected areas include Loja, where the destruction has spread to 7,600 hectares of native vegetation and 128.5 hectares of agricultural land. Over 300 firefighters have been deployed to combat the flames, with support from the Peruvian government. The capital, Quito, has also seen widespread fires, leading to the suspension of classes in 22 schools. With the ongoing dry season and dangerous rainfall deficits, authorities are coordinating efforts to protect communities.